After its participation in Scope Miami Art Show, Çağla Cabaoğlu Gallery took part in Scope New York Art Show between March 02 and 06, 2017, with an installation titled “Istanbul’s Cabinet of Curiosities”, comprising of the works of 32 contemporary Turkish artists.

Following Miami Scope Art Show, Çağla Cabaoğlu Gallery introduced this time a mural collage installation of multidisciplinary works inspired by the city, stepping forth from the cultural layers of Istanbul. With this exhibition Çağla Cabaoğlu Gallery attracts attention to the relationship between Turkey’s contemporary art practices and Anatolian culture as the junction, intersection of civilizations throughout the ages as well as today’s world: thirty two artists from different generations, living and producing at varied geographies, nourished by their habitat, contemporary practices of art, Anatolia’s cultural heritage and their personal experiences.

“Cabinet of Curiosities”, originated with the discovery impetus of the Renaissance, initially brought together items which were discrepant, amazing and heterodox. Then, re-introduced the eclectic structure posed within the framework of a homogeneous universe ranging from a collection to the idea and concept of a museum. Cabinet of Curiosities is a symbol of curiosity, research, and inquiry, propagating knowledge, prestige and new perspectives. Further to being a symbolic conveyance of the personal universe, a transformation of whatever belongs to the culture and accumulation of humanity.

“Istanbul‘s Cabinet of Curiosities” concept is at the same time a suggestion regarding intercultural dialogue and transitivity.

While the concept of Istanbul‘s Cabinet of Curiosities highlighted the movement of the culture over the trade routes of the Phoenicians from Istanbul to the Mediterranean and from there to South America, as well as the indicators of a process that signifies a dialogue with similarities and diversities, the project also remarks the productions of artists coming from different generations and geographies of Istanbul, which is an unusual and special world city composed of different cultural layers.

Çağla Cabaoğlu Gallery generated this project through rare works of very specific artists selected from amongst the exclusive and setting sail on a new odyssey in pursuit of the historical accumulation. Following the footsteps of civilization ever since the Phoenicians, is reshaping Turkey’s artists living and creating in the 21st century in soils not too distant apart. And is bringing together the époque-integrated works of those artists impersonating such terra with the mutual language of the greater global terrain.